Inglourious Basterds (2009)
8.215 /10
23667 Reviews
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In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds, lead by Lt. Aldo Raine soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers.
Videos & Photos
cast
... LT. Aldo Raine
... Shosanna
... COL. Hans Landa
... SGT. Donny Donowitz
... LT. Archie Hicox
User reviews
**_Refreshingly different alternative WW2 drama/adventure_**
RELEASED IN 2009 and directed by Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds" takes place during the German occupation of France in WW2 and revolves around a ruthless “Jew Hunter” Nazi (Christoph Waltz), a beautiful young theater owner dripping with vengeance, a German war hero who pesters her and a brutal team of Jewish-American guerrilla soldiers led by Lt. Aldo Raine.
This was my first taste of the popular director's eccentric repertoire, although I've since seen all of his movies. The first time I tried to watch "Basterds" I gave up around the 50-minute mark. Don't get me wrong, the dialogue-driven opening sequence is great but the film seemed to bog down with its focus on a French theater during the German occupation and the accompanying interminable dialogue (mostly in subtitles). I just wasn't ready for this because I was expecting a Dirty Dozen-styled WW2 film with lots of action and all that goes with it. What I got instead was a plot that focused on the aforementioned theater accompanied by long sessions of generally subtitled dialogue.
I eventually gave it a second chance with the understanding that this wasn't some typical war flick. Strangely, the "interminable dialogue" pulled me in and I slowly became engrossed in the story, which isn't hard to follow. The drama is only occasionally interrupted by flashes of extreme violence. Until the end, that is, where all hell literally breaks loose.
There ARE elements that bring to mind "The Dirty Dozen" (1967), including a group of anti-heroes intent on mercilessly obliterating as many Germans as possible and the fact that the real action doesn't kick-in until the final act, but "Basterds" is hardly a Dirty Dozen clone. It may borrow a bit from notable films of the past but it absolutely possesses its own refreshing originality.
All effective films have quality characters and "Basterds" has several: The stunning Mélanie Laurent as Shosanna, the cinema proprietor who quietly seethes with retribution; Christoph Waltz as SS Col. Hans Landa, an articulate and suave love-to-hate villain who mercilessly hunts down Jews; Brad Pitt as the almost-comical, but no-nonsense leader of the brutal Basterds; super-sharp Diane Kruger as a German actress & British spy; and Daniel Brühl as a genial German hero with the hots for the beautiful Shosanna.
Like Tarantino’s other great movies (“Pulp Fiction,” “Django Unchained” and “Jackie Brown”), "Basterds" pulsates with confidence, style, quirkiness and a sense of the unexpected from beginning to end, the perfect antidote to the idiotic "blockbuster" syndrome that plagues modern cinema with its predictability and overKILL action & CGI, etc. Most movies seem like they’re in a rush and shy away from extended dialogues because they fear losing the viewer’s limited attention whereas Tarantino makes them a highlight because it’s an area where he excels. Instead of pedestrian verbiage that merely advances the plot or conveys the obvious, his interchanges are rich with amusement and mindfood.
THE FILM RUNS 153 minutes and was shot in France and Germany.
GRADE: A-
Director:
Writer:
Quentin Tarantino (Writer)
Release Date:
2009-08-02
Run Time:
153 min
MMPA Rating:
R
Reviews of
Inglourious Basterds
**_Refreshingly different alternative WW2 drama/adventure_**
RELEASED IN 2009 and directed by Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds" takes place during the German occupation of France in WW2 and revolves around a ruthless “Jew Hunter” Nazi (Christoph Waltz), a beautiful young theater owner dripping with vengeance, a German war hero who pesters her and a brutal team of Jewish-American guerrilla soldiers led by Lt. Aldo Raine.
This was my first taste of the popular director's eccentric repertoire, although I've since seen all of his movies. The first time I tried to watch "Basterds" I gave up around the 50-minute mark. Don't get me wrong, the dialogue-driven opening sequence is great but the film seemed to bog down with its focus on a French theater during the German occupation and the accompanying interminable dialogue (mostly in subtitles). I just wasn't ready for this because I was expecting a Dirty Dozen-styled WW2 film with lots of action and all that goes with it. What I got instead was a plot that focused on the aforementioned theater accompanied by long sessions of generally subtitled dialogue.
I eventually gave it a second chance with the understanding that this wasn't some typical war flick. Strangely, the "interminable dialogue" pulled me in and I slowly became engrossed in the story, which isn't hard to follow. The drama is only occasionally interrupted by flashes of extreme violence. Until the end, that is, where all hell literally breaks loose.
There ARE elements that bring to mind "The Dirty Dozen" (1967), including a group of anti-heroes intent on mercilessly obliterating as many Germans as possible and the fact that the real action doesn't kick-in until the final act, but "Basterds" is hardly a Dirty Dozen clone. It may borrow a bit from notable films of the past but it absolutely possesses its own refreshing originality.
All effective films have quality characters and "Basterds" has several: The stunning Mélanie Laurent as Shosanna, the cinema proprietor who quietly seethes with retribution; Christoph Waltz as SS Col. Hans Landa, an articulate and suave love-to-hate villain who mercilessly hunts down Jews; Brad Pitt as the almost-comical, but no-nonsense leader of the brutal Basterds; super-sharp Diane Kruger as a German actress & British spy; and Daniel Brühl as a genial German hero with the hots for the beautiful Shosanna.
Like Tarantino’s other great movies (“Pulp Fiction,” “Django Unchained” and “Jackie Brown”), "Basterds" pulsates with confidence, style, quirkiness and a sense of the unexpected from beginning to end, the perfect antidote to the idiotic "blockbuster" syndrome that plagues modern cinema with its predictability and overKILL action & CGI, etc. Most movies seem like they’re in a rush and shy away from extended dialogues because they fear losing the viewer’s limited attention whereas Tarantino makes them a highlight because it’s an area where he excels. Instead of pedestrian verbiage that merely advances the plot or conveys the obvious, his interchanges are rich with amusement and mindfood.
THE FILM RUNS 153 minutes and was shot in France and Germany.
GRADE: A-
Second time seeing this since it was released on Blu-ray in 2009 and still is a solid war-thriller with Tarantino's flair with dialogue and of course, feet. But seriously, despite being 2.5 hours, the time flew by thanks to the brisk pace and great performances from all around. Not my favorite Tarantino film but it's up there. **4.5/5**
It's obviously Tarantino, creating tension with long dialogues and containing short bursts of violence, although some scenes could have been shortened or omitted. Great to see the lineup of French and German actors, where the terrific Waltz takes the cake.
8/10
Another banger from Tarantino. Christoph Waltz is such an amazing actor in this one.
Cast & Crew of
Inglourious Basterds
Cast
... LT. Aldo Raine
... Shosanna
... COL. Hans Landa
... SGT. Donny Donowitz
... LT. Archie Hicox
... Bridget von Hammersmark
... Fredrick Zoller
... SGT. Hugo Stiglitz
... CPL. Wilhelm Wicki
... Marcel
... PFC. Smithson Utivich
... PFC. Omar Ulmer
... Major Hellstrom
... Perrier LaPadite
... Joseph Goebbels
... Hitler
... General Ed Fenech
... Francesca Mondino
... SGT. Rachtman
... Master SGT. Wilhelm / Pola Negri
... Winston Churchill
... PVT. Butz / Walter Frazer
... PFC. Hirschberg
... PFC. Andy Kagan
... PFC. Michael Zimmerman
... German Soldier / Winnetou
... German Female Soldier / Beethoven
... German Soldier / Edgar Wallace
... German Soldier / Mata Hari
... Proprietor Eric
... Mathilda
... Charlotte LaPadite
... Julie LaPadite
... Suzanne LaPadite
... CPT. Wolfgang
... Babette
... Herrman #1
... Herrman #3
... General Schonherr
... Old French Veterinarian
... Hellstrom's Driver / Nazi Usher #1
... Gaspar
... PFC. Simon Sakowitz
... Kliest Voice (voice)
... Emil Jannings
... Jakob Dreyfus
... Miriam Dreyfus
... Bob Dreyfus
... Amos Dreyfus
... German Company SGT.
... Maxim's Waiter
... General Frank
... Motorcycle Rider #1
... Motorcycle Rider #2
... American Colonel
... Enzo G. Castellari
... Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
... Usher #2 (uncredited)
... German Movie Star (uncredited)
... German Official (voice) (uncredited)
... German Soldier (uncredited)
... German Civilian (uncredited)
... Military Attaché (uncredited)
... SS Major (uncredited)
... OSS Commander Who Agrees to Deal (voice) (uncredited)
... Nazi Theatre Attendee (uncredited)
... Gestapo Major (uncredited)
... First Scalped Nazi / American Soldier in 'Pride of Nation' (uncredited)
... French Waiter (uncredited)
... German Female Soldier (uncredited)
... Cinema Guest (uncredited)
... Nazi Soldier (uncredited)
... Soldier (uncredited)
Crew
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Director of Photography
... Production Design
... Writer
... Executive Producer
... Producer
... Editor
... Executive Producer
... Utility Stunts
... Stunt Double
... Stunt Coordinator
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunt Double
... Stunt Double
... Stunt Coordinator
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunt Double
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Makeup Department Head
... Casting
... Costume Design
... Casting
... Casting
... Casting
... Thanks
... Costume Design
... Co-Producer
... Makeup Effects
... Makeup Effects
... Set Decoration
... Thanks
... Assistant Director
... Makeup Artist
... Art Direction
... Stunt Coordinator
... Thanks
... Art Direction
... Music Editor
... Supervising Art Director
... Art Direction
... Hairstylist
... Music Supervisor
... Thanks
... Thanks
... Thanks
... Location Manager
... Assistant Editor
... Still Photographer
... Color Timer
... Key Hair Stylist
... Driver
... Stunts
... Supervising Sound Editor
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Production Sound Mixer
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Visual Effects Camera
... Makeup Effects
... Unit Production Manager
... Additional Script Supervisor
... First Assistant "B" Camera
... Co-Producer
... Associate Producer
... Second Assistant "B" Camera
... Visual Effects Designer
... Post Production Supervisor
... Loader
... Associate Producer
... First Assistant "A" Camera
... Second Assistant "A" Camera
... Unit Production Manager
... Script Supervisor
... Associate Producer
... Steadicam Operator
... Clapper Loader
... Additional Editor
... Co-Producer
... Assistant Editor
... Post Production Coordinator
... Editorial Production Assistant
... ADR Supervisor
... First Assistant Editor
... Post Production Supervisor
... Sound Designer
... Sound Designer
... First Assistant Editor
... Director
... Set Production Assistant
... Gaffer
Videos & Photos of
Inglourious Basterds
Videos (3)
Photos 81
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